SOMERSET'S defence of the Vitality Blast Trophy is going to be far from easy and, after beating Essex in front of a sell-out crowd on Friday evening they came down to earth with a jolt on Sunday evening when they were beaten by Surrey at the Oval by 57 runs.

On Friday night against Essex they gave a good performance with both bat and ball to get their campaign off to a winning start. Sadly at the Oval, while their bowlers were on even better form, they were let down by their batting which, with the exception of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, never quite fired.

The Cidermen’s opener on a sunny Friday evening in front of a full house at Taunton against last year's beaten finalists saw Essex batting first and  being limited to 193 for six from their 20 overs, skipper Lewis Gregory claiming wickets.

Somerset replied well thanks to Tom Banton who made 21 off 14 balls and Will Smeed who smote 39 off 16 deliveries with three fours and four sixes.

 Tom Abell made a welcome return to form and added 58 for the fourth wicket with Sean Dickson who hit 26. Abell and Gregory then added 60 in six overs before Abell was out for 55 off 36 balls with five fours and a six followed soon after by Gregory for 44 off 20 with two fours and four sixes, which all but saw their side over the line to a four wicket victory with five balls to spare.

Two days later against Surrey Craig Overton, captain for the night in the absence of the not quite fit Gregory, accounted for Laurie Evans, caught by Lammonby in the deep off the last ball of the opening over. First ball of the next Riley Meredith made it seven for two when Dan Lawrence was caught by Lammonby.

The Aussie paceman struck again to remove Jason Roy, in the fourth over , which brought Jamie Smith in to join Ollie Pope, who together over the course of the next 9.2 overs added 111 runs, before Roleof van Der Merwe bowled the latter for 40.

Ben Green then struck three times in the 16th over, claiming the wickets of Jordan Clark, Smith and Tom Curran. Meredith returned and bowled Sean Abbot before Green struck again with the third ball of the 18th over to remove Gus Atkinson for one. Surrey were all out for 163, losing their last six wickets for 11 runs. Green ended with four wickets for 32 while Meredith had three for 34..

The Somerset openers Smeed and Banton added 16 before the latter was out for 11. Smeed took his total onto 20 before he too was dismissed for 20.

Abell and Kohler -Cadmore threatened but after adding 23 together Abell was caught off the bowling of Abbot. Kohler -Cadmore looked to be getting into his stride hitting a four and three sixes off just 10 balls but on 25 he was run out .

Dickson and Lammonby added 18 but after taking his total onto 12 Dickson was bowled by Tom Curran.

With the score on 80 for five at the halfway stage Somerset were well up with the asking rate which enabled Green and Lammonby to steady things down ,but when Green went bowled by Curran followed by Lammonby for 19 the game was over.

The last three wickets fell without any addition to the score as Somerset were all out for 106 in 15.4 overs.

Somerset are next in Vitality Blast action when they are away to Kent at Canterbury on Friday evening before they return to host Hampshire on Sunday afternoon.